Match-box.



PATENTED APR. 1'7, 1906.

R. L. HBAFER.

MATCH BOX.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.30.1905.

ROSCOE L. HEAFER, OF BLOOMINGTON, ILLINOIS.

MATCH-BOX..

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 17, 1906.

Application filed August 30, 1905. Serial No. 276,404.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, Roscon L. HEAFER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bloomington, in the county of McLean and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Match Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a safety matchbox designed to be attached to and carried within a pocket, or upon a belt, or upon the trousers-band.

The object of the invention is a match-box which can be quickly filled, from which a match can be readily extractedwithout opening a lid or cover and from which the match cannot accidentally fall, and in which the match-heads are always protected and kept drv.

A still further object of the invention is a match-box in which a portion of the matches contained therein will be visible and the number of the matches contained in the box can be readily ascertained without opening the box.

The invention consists of the box formed of two pieces of metal, one piece forming the back and sides of the box and the other piece forming the front and bottom being cut out transversely and sliding upon the first-mentioned piece, the matches being held in the space between the two pieces.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure l is a perspective view of the box. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the box. Fig. 3 is a section taken transversely through the box midway its ends and showing the slidable front plate in its normal position. Fig. 4 is a similar sectional view showing the front plate in a raised or opened position. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal horizontal section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2.

In the drawings, A represents the back plate, which carries integral forwardly-projecting sides B, and adjacent said sides is vertically slotted, as shown at A` Rearwardly and downwardly projecting clips C are carried by the upper edges of the back plate A by means of which the box can be secured in position within a pocket or upon the inner side of the trousers-band. The front plate D is formed in the front of two sections parallel with the back plate A to aline adjacent the upper edge of said plate, and above that line the sections D of the front plate are bent or inclined upwardly and rearwardly, the extreme ends being bent parallel to the back plateA and in sliding contact therewith. The front plate-sections D are bent inwardly at their lower ends to form a bottom F and are integral with a supplemental rear plate G, which slides upon the plate A.

It will be clear from the drawings that the sections D of the front plate are spaced apart, leaving an opening extending through the top and bottom to the top of the box and extending through the top and bottom suficiently to permit the thumb to be inserted and moved transversely across the inner face of the rear plate G and the back plate A. To lock the parts in position, the lower edge of the plate A is slightly out away intermediate its ends, as shown at A2, and a spring catch or clip G2, formed upon the lower edge of the rear plate G between the sections D, engages the cut-out portion A2. The parts are further locked together and the front sections limited in their sliding movement on the plateAby bent fingers G, carried by the ends of the rear plate G and projecting through the slots A2 and in sliding engagement with the outer or rear face of the back plate A.

While the back plateAmay be made of any suitable material, the front piece which comprises the rear plate G, bottom portions F, and sections D, with their inclined portions E, are preferably made of the spring metal. To fill the box, it is simply necessary to disengage the clip or catch G2 from the cut-out portion A2 of the plate A and slide the rear plate G transversely across the plate A, so far as the fingers G2 and slots A will permit, and the matches can then be readily dropped into place, the portion E being moved above the upper edge of the plate A with which they are normally in contact.

The matches are dropped into the box lengthwise and raised transversely with respect to the sections D and the space between them. By inserting the thumb in the space between the sections the uppermost match vcan be readily withdrawn from under the inclined portions E, which being of spring metal will spring back from the plate A to permit passage of the end portions of the match and will spring back into place again as soon as the match is withdrawn.

I-Iaving thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A match-box comprising a back plate, a rear plate sliding thereon, the front sections spaced from the back plate and from each IOC other and supported by the rear plate said front sections haVing inclined portions converging toward and normally in engagement With the back plate, and means for locking the rear plate in position, upon the back plate.

2. A match-box comprising back and side pieces, the back piece beingvertically slotted adjacent the side piece, a front piece formed of tWo sections spaced apart and spaced Afrom the back piece, the converging end portions carried by the front sections and in normal contact With the upper edge portion of the back plate, the bottom piece integral With the 'front sections, a rear plate integral with and I 5 connecting the bottom pieces and i sliding upon the inner lace of the back plate, a spring-clip carried by the rear plate adapted to engage the lower edge oit' the back plate, and guide-lingers carried by the ends of the zo rear plate, said ngers passing through the slots of the back plate and in engagement With the edges of said slots.

ROSCOE L. HEAFER.

Witnesses:

JAMEs C. RILEY, JOHN WYCKOFF. 

